Project Description

The EBRD is considering a senior unsecured loan of US$20 million equivalent to be disbursed in JOD (approx. JOD 14 million) to support lending to local MSMEs. The Facility is expected to have two tranches of US$10 million equivalent each. Cairo Amman Bank (“CAB”) will be eligible to benefit from the loan guarantee scheme comprised of (i) a first loss cover provided by the EBRD and (ii) a second loss cover provided by the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation (JLGC) provided that it meets the necessary portfolio criteria. Furthermore, CAB will be eligible to benefit from tailor made technical assistance.

Transition Impact

Sources of Transition Impact:

- Market Expansion: Jordanian MSMEs account for 95 per cent of active businesses in Jordan, providing 70 per cent of private sector total employment and generating around 40 per cent of GDP. Yet, access to finance remains an important impediment to MSMEs’ growth, with bank lending to MSMEs estimated at around 11 per cent of total lending.

- Skills Transfer: Dedicated technical assistance will support Jordanian banks in building capacity in MSME lending and developing appropriate products.

The Client

Established in 1960, CAB is the fifth largest bank in Jordan with total assets of US$3.1 billion as of 2013. While primarily a retail bank, Cairo Amman Bank also offers a full range of products and services to micro, SME and corporate clients, including brokerage and leasing products. CAB is listed on the Amman Stock and rated B2 (LT) with a stable outlook by Moody’s, in line with Jordan’s sovereign rating.

EBRD Finance

Senior unsecured term facility of 5 years with 2 year grace period.

Project Cost

Up to US$20 million equivalent in JOD.

Environmental Impact

Categorised FI. CAB will be required to comply with the EBRD’s Performance Requirements for FIs (specifically, PR2 Labour and Working Conditions and 9 Financial Intermediaries) and adhere to the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Exclusion and Referral Lists and submit Annual Environmental and Social Reports to the EBRD.

General enquiries

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Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM)

The Project Complaint Mechanism (PCM) is the EBRD's accountability mechanism. It provides an opportunity for an independent review of complaints from individuals and organisations concerning EBRD-financed projects which are alleged to have caused, or are likely to cause, environmental and/or social harm.

Please visit the Project Complaint Mechanism page to find information about how to submit a complaint. The PCM Officer (pcm@ebrd.com) is available to answer any questions you may have regarding the submission of a complaint and criteria for registration and eligibility, in accordance with the PCM Rules of Procedure.